Kabanata 27
Mortal

Celestia Rogue

NAPANGITI AKONG dinala si Allen sa mundong pinamumunuan ko. Right now I am the only one who has access to that world I fought so hard in, for hundred of years.

"This world used to be the most prosperous world that the creator, created. Nakatutuwang naibalik mo ang dating sigla ng mundong ito."

Komento ni Allen habang nakatanaw mula saaking palasyo.

"Right now, a clone of mine is managing this world well. Darating ang panahon na ipapasa ko ang trono sa nararapat, para sa mundong ito. I just want to live a simple life, after my mission."

Ngiti ko habang hinahaplos ng hangin ang kabuuan namin.

"The horrible state of this world before will be the same path Mytheia will fall into if we fail. Saatin nakataya ang mundong iyon. Noong una ay hindi ko din maintindihan kung bakit kailangan kong tumulong sa pagliligtas ng mundong iyon. That world is full of sinners, a wasteland full of stinky, horrible trash. Kahit wala ang traydor na iyon ay ang mga theians na mismo ang sumisira sa Mytheia."

Allen stated.

"Millions of blood were shed because of pointless wars. Theians are full of greed, jealousy, cruelty. Sila na mismo ang sumisira hindi lamang sakanilang mundo ngunit maging sa kanilang kapwa. I was born through countless of blood that has been shed, countless of souls seeking for justice. They are too cruel that I couldn't understand the point of saving them at first."

Napatingala ito sa kalangitan.

"But this world is not theirs, this world is the world that we are bound to protect and love. This is creator's first creation and I wouldn't let it go to waste. I need to save it, we need to save it."

Determinadong sambit niya na nagpangiti saamin.

"You're really all grown up, I wouldn't be able to imagine the 13 years old Allen, saying all of these."

I chuckled.

"Hey, I might be just 18 in this body but I already am a thousand years older than you."

He hissed, natawa akong ginulo ang kaniyang buhok na nagpailing lamang sa huli.

"Wars are not just about greed and violence. It's the voice of the people, it's protecting your land, protecting those you love. Giving justice and Defending those happy memories you've shared. You'll cry, you'll feel lonely, you'll loose purpose, you'll get betrayed, you will see your comrades die.... But you'll have to continue fighting even if you wouldn't know if you'll live another day. Cause if you stop, that means you already gave up. You're giving up the better future, the future that you and your comrades has always been dreaming about. The future that you all promised to your people, the future, the promise to your loveones that you will fail to protect once you quit."

Patuloy na pagkukwento niya.

"That's why you're here now, helping us reclaim the heavens from Lucian. The future you're still holding on tightly that not even death could stop you from defending. He just won the battle, but not the war, Cormac."

I said seriously making him smile and nodded his head.

"The two great gods, the animal god, the god of war and justice, water god, nature god, fire god, maybe the goddess of enlightenment and you. We will all win this war, no matter how many time I die I will still be reborn and I will keep fighting for the world I wanted to protect."

Dagdag niyang nagpatango tango saakin habang nakatingin sa napakagandang kalangitan.

"We will win...we will win, no matter what."

Determinado kong sambit.

"Thank you."

Ngiti niyang nagpangiti saakin pabalik saka bumalik ang tingin saaking tinatanaw.

"So when did you get awakened?"

I asked.

"It's more than a week since you're gone, probably a day or two since you were exiled in this world. Hindi ko pa alam noon kung nasaan ka at alalang alala kaming lahat saiyo, lalo na ang mama mo."

umpisa niya.

"Mataas ang lagnat ko noon at kahit pa gusto kitang hanapin ay hinang hina ako. I heard my brother's voice, Leonard before I passed out. And just like that, all my memories as Cormac came back to me. Tatlong araw din akong nakatulog noon, pag gising ko ay bumalik na din ang kapangyarihan ko. The villagers couldn't believe it one time I couldn't control my physical strength in this body."

He continued, napatango tango ako doon. The god of war has the power of a champion. He has unbelievable speed, strength and a great strategist. He is invincible in battles and he could win countless of wars without breaking a sweat. He can also absorb attacks with his light mana, but unlike mine, he wouldn't be able to copy or steal it. 

That is how the mythology described him.

Leonard on the other hand can tame any creature and take control of them. That's why is is said to be the king of beasts, the protector of the animals and the god of beast men. 

Hindi lang halata kaya kadalasan ay nakakalimutan ko.

"When Draco came, disguised at that woman, I noticed it and confronted him. Turns out he went there to deliver the sad news, we were all devastated, kaya nga masayang masaya ako nang ibalita saakin ni Leonard nang mabuhay ka."

He said making me chuckle.

"I didn't expect it either, sa ilang daang taong pakikipaglaban ko sa mundong ito ay wala akong maalala. That's why it took me awhile to come back."

I smiled then glanced at him.

"You and Drashit seems close now though, what happened?"

I asked, napa ahh' ito roon.

"That?"

Lumingon ito sa gawi ko.

"He helped your mother and protected the village, he helped us a lot secretly, without asking anything in return. And just like you, I realized that he's not like other theians. I trained for a year , getting in control with my body, the whole kingdom is in a mess that time. He often goes to the forest near our village. Kung saan ka laging nakapwesto ay naroroon din siya.  And then he discovered that I am not a simple commoner, we kind of got along after that, he even helped me become a soldier for the war.."

Pagkukwento niyang nagpakunot noo saakin.

"A war?"

I asked, tumango siya doon.

"Remember princess Alyssa Rosette Zaveri?"

He asked, tumango ako doon, she's probably around 15 or 16 now.

"Your crush?"

I asked teasingly, pero hindi siya umimik doon.

"She desperately asked me for help one time, she asked me to hide her.S ince the new emperor withdrew the marriage, the other kingdom declared a war. I hid and protected her for a month, she's also one of the few people that time that knows my ability. She's a good friend of mine, I promised her and went to a war for her request, I won a war to stop the princess' marriage that the late emperor did before he died."

He stated, napataas ang isang kilay ko.

"Wow, what a good friend."

I said sarcastically making him frown.

"I'm a thousand years older, I only see her as a good friend I should protect."

He looked away.

"But you're waiting for her aren't you? I heard that the new emperor got you two engaged after you became a general."

I giggled, hearing that.

I heard that he actually became a general, just about two years since he joined. Napakadali kasi niyang naipapanalo ang mga gera.  He protected the land where the shattered cores are and where his family lives, with all his might.

In just a span of two years, he won countless of battes that no one has ever done in the army. He is a war genius that the current emperor, Seth Drake Dewei Zaveri apointed him to be the most honorable man of the kingdom and the youngest general in history of Zaveri.

"He wanted her to be wed into an honorable man that will protect her. It's only an engagement, I won't stop her if she would like to break it once she finds someone to love. I am only protecting her right now."

He said firmly.

"You sound so bitter saying that."

Patuloy na pang aasar kong nagpangiwi sakaniya.

"But you actually like that princess don't you?"

I asked, reading his mind, after observing his emotions.

"In my thousands of years observing the theians, being in countless of battlefields. She's the kindest theian I've ever met, someone with the purest soul I've ever seen. At first I am only protecting her because she could be a saintess, but every time I am with that princess, I feel strange and I don't like how it is going, I don't like how addicting it is to be with her. Iyon lang ay kontento na ako, alam mong kailangan naming iwasang magmahal ng isang mortal."

He sighed.

"Yes, I understand if you do not want to love a mortal. It's not prohibited but considering their lifespan and how would it affect the balance of the world, you really have to stop yourself from wanting more. Also how things ended up with your brother Lucian and Selene, I can't really blame you if you're afraid."

I stated. 

"But that doesn't mean you should stop yourself for being happy. Time will tell, you perfectly know that after living thousands of years in your past life."

I added.

Seryoso lang ang muka niyang napatango doon.

WE GOT BACK to the village after our reunion. I spent my day with my parents after that.

"You sent your clone to attend your classes?"

Tanong ng tandang habang kumakain ng mais sa gilid.

"Tinatamad akong pumasok eh."

Kibit balikat kong sabi habang ginagawa ang malaking facility. I protected it with a strong barrier to stop the guardians, even someone as strong as Drashit from coming in.

"Did you already give the invitations?"

I asked Leonard.

"Ako pa."

He hissed, napangisi ako doon habang inaayos ang facility. It's a huge facility for commoners. A place that can be safe for them, a place that will protect them from harm.

They could also learn how to read, write and calculate here. It's a facility that will also train willing commoners to fight and even hunt.

We will give them work and protect them from harm.

"I can do this kinds of things now."

I chuckled, gusto kong maiyak habang tinitignan ang natapos kong facility.

It will be protected by me.

Tanging ang mga commoners lamang ang makakakita at makakapasok sa facility na ito. Pwera nalang kung may pinahintulutan akong iba bukod sakanila.

I want all the commoners from this kingdom to benifit from here.

"You already bought the whole abandoned land?"

Leonard asked, tumango ako doon.

"Yeah, as shadow guardian. But I wouldn't let anyone know about this facility, other than the commoners. Bukod sa pinagbilhan ko ng lupa ay walang makakaalam na ako ang bumili nito. Unless, ofcourse he wanted to comit a terrible suicide."

Kibit balikat ko. 

"A terrible death, from a terrible person."

Tango tangong sabi ng panget na tandang na inirapan ko lang. Wala ako sa mood makipagtalo ngayon sakaniya.

Saka totoo naman.

Napangiti ako ng matamis saka hiniwa ang palad at inilagay ang patak ng aking dugo sa isang matibay na lagayang gawa ko. 

Agad din nagsasara ang sugat ko.

"Will you be more careful? A drop of that blood will poison this land."

He hissed making me laugh.

"Which makes it a terrible poison."

I giggled, sinamaan niya ako ng tingin.

"Chill, I can also heal this land, just incase I dropped some."

I shrugged.

"Yabang."

He hissed making me smirk then hid the blood just incase I'll need it. I should mix my blood to my mana arrows while launching it.

Napatango tango ako doon.

"Where's Cormac by the way?"

I asked.

"Andoon sa prinsesa niya, hindi na ba siya nadala sa nangyari kay Lucian at Selene? It's okay to love, but in his case? loving too much will only bring trouble, will only bring pain, not just for him but to others as well. If a god loves a mortal so deep, it will only bring a deeper wound in our hearts once we had to let go of them. Just what is he thinking?"

He frowned, napataas ang kilay ko roon.

"Bitter ah, naexperience mo?"

Ngisi kong ikinatahimik nito.

"Oh my, you did?"

I asked sinamaan ako nito ng tingin ngunit napabuntong hininga lamang ang panget.

"It was a human, before Selene did those crimes, I once loved a human."

He uttered, nanlaki ang mata ko doon.

"Not a theian, but a human?! Are you serious?"

Gulat kong saad dahilan upang sipain niya ako na agad kong naiwasan.

"Theians are annoying so I don't like watching them, but we can take a peek or go to other worlds if we want to, as long as we don't ruin their balance. In my case, I wanted to discover other animals, so I went to that world and disguised myself as a---rooster."

He frowned.

"It's the first animal I saw, so I disguised myself as that animal. Unfortunately, a woman came, just before I could transform back to my true form."

Pagkukwento niya.

"Kaya ba ay may hawak kang tandang sa estatwa mo sa templo?"

Walang kwentang tanong ko.

"Yeah, to make the story short, the weird woman made me her pet after trying to cook me. I became quiet close with one of the roosters in there."

Sagot niya sa tanong ko, hindi ko maimagine kaya tinatawanan ko nalang siya.

"So ano ngang nangyari?"

Tanong ko.

"I fell for her and then she died, the end."

He hissed, sinimangutan ko siya.

"Ang panget mo namang magkwento! details naman diyan."

Reklamo ko.

"Sino ba kasing nagpapakwento?! Edi wag kang makinig!"

Iritableng sambit niya.

"Dali na, kwento mo na, bitin yung story eh."

Sambit ko, sinamaan ako ng tingin nito na nagpatawa saakin.

"I fell in love with the woman and protected her, there are times that I wanted more than what we have, but I stopped myself. I know I can't, we are living in a completely different world. Kontento na ako sa anong mayroon kami, masaya na ako doon. I loved and protected her for so many years. Even if she's turned old and gray, even if her skin wrinkled, she's still the most beautiful woman in my eyes.... I can still clearly see how she looks like, I can still imagine how her voice sounds like. And in her last moments, she asked me to show her my true form, turns out she already know that I am not one of them."

Pagkukwento niya.

"Eh tanga ka pala, sinong tandang ang mabubuhay ng ganoon katagal? malamang mabubuking ka."

Garapal kong pagsingit.

"Tanga ka pa, edi ikaw magtuloy!"

Inis na sabi nitong nagpangisi lang saakin.

"Oh sige na ituloy mo na."

Natatawang sabi ko.

"In the end I still couldn't tell her how much I love her. She thanked me for everything before she died, she died happy. She died happy, but all I felt is emptiness, the moment she's gone. It hurts so much, I feel like dying, I'm alive but I kept missing her. And I hate that gods can only love once, yet I chose a mortal---I hate it, but I don't regret it. If I could turn back time, I would go to that world again to meet her and spend years with her. It is the happiest seventy years of my life."

Pagkukwento niya saakin, natahimik ako doon at napayuko. 

"Gods can only love once?"

I asked.

"Sa isang nilalang lamang kami magmamahal. Kaya nga ay kung maaari ay isang imortal o kapwa namin ang dapat naming mahalin. That way, we could be with them as long as we live."

Sagot niya.

"That sucks."

I frowned, mapait siyang natawa doon.

"She probably got reborn right? why didn't you find her?"

I asked, umiling lamang siya saakin.

"Mortals would always get reborn in the same lineage, the same creature. If I tried finding her, I would only keep seeing her die and it would hurt me so much letting her go over and over again. This is a curse that pains me more than being in this pathetic form. This is why I do not want Cormac to meet the same fate, but seems like I am too late now, he already fell for that princess."

He hissed, nangisi ako doon at binatukan.

"Gago to, bat ka nambabatok?!"

Iritang sabi niya.

"Ang drama mo kasi, hindi ako sanay."

Sabi ko dahilan upaqng samaan ako nito ng tingin.

"Ang sama talaga ng ugali nito.

He hissed making me laugh.

"Chair up panget mo lalo kapag nagdadrama."

Ngisi ko.

"Saka walang may alam ng mga mangyayari. Right now you'd feel horrible, then the next day, you'll be your usual self, then next next day, you'll be happy. That's just how life is, I'm sure you also made her life the happiest as she spent it with you. Let your brother love like you did. Ang sabi mo nga ay iyon ang pinakamasayang taon ng buhay mo."

I shrugged.

"Corny mo, di mo bagay magbigay ng advice."

Sambit niyang nagpangiwi saakin saka sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"Edi don't. Palaklakin kita ng lason diyan eh."

Iritang sabi ko saka nailing nalang na umalis pabalik sa village dahil tapos naman na ako sa ginagawa.

I teleported at the forest and smiled as I look at the glowing birds in the trees. I used to follow these birds around when I was a kid. Seeing these birds somewhat makes me relieve, it makes me feel safe for my loveones.

Nanatili lamang akong nakangiti habang nilipad ng hangin ang buhok ko. Napahagikhik ako habang tila ba inaabot ang langit habang nasisinagan ako ng araw.

"Who are you?"

A familiar cold voice behind me suddenly said. Natigilan ako doon kasabay ng mabilis na pagkabog ng aking puso.

"Draco.."

I mumbled.